LIONVILLE – Magic is Alive
- Posted on 24-08-2020
AOR rockers Lionville recently released this eleven-track slice of melodic and atmospheric rock that reminds this writer of Pride of Lion’s excellent “Fearless” record from 2016. What the fuck does that mean? Well, we are talking instantly catchy riffs, vocal melodies that are easy on the ear, rather straightforward yet cool arrangements, and lyrics that deal with love lost and found again. “Magic is Alive” is neither groundbreaking nor wildly exhilarating as such, but it is a solid and hugely competent piece of work that delivers memorable tunes that one can pretty much hum along to after one or two spins. The production oozes professionalism and there is a great balance between the various instruments here, especially with respect to the keyboards and how they interact with all the rest and complement the guitars and vocals.
The use of two lead vocalists is great too and there are some real strong tracks to be found in the shape of the energetic, fast-paced “Every Little Thing (Leads Back to You)” and the epic, slightly harder-sounding “Living with the Truth”. The slightly funky “Reaching for the Sky” possesses groove and style aplenty and is also a highlight.
«Magic is Alive» is a polished and crisp-sounding display of hook laden AOR/melodic rock that ought to appeal to fans and devotees of Foreigner, Journey, early Bon Jovi, and the aforementioned Pride of Lions. Frontiers Records have churned out what seems like a million records pertaining to this particular style and genre over the years, but to these ears, “Magic is Alive” is one of the more musically satisfying and entertaining ones in the label’s catalogue. On top of that, there is something indefinably sophisticated about the artwork and the way in which all aspects of the disc enhance each other and come together.